Filling U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee's Congressional seat will be a free-for-all, expert says

File photoU.S. Rep Dale Kildee, D-Flint, has announced he will not run for a 19th term in office.

FLINT, Michigan — In this political climate where each open Congressional seat has added importance, they’ll be no shortage of candidates throwing their hats in the ring to replace U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, who announced that he will not seek re-election in 2012.

Saying “it was time to do something else,” Kildee, 81, said he will retire at the end of his term. It will be the first time in 36 years that the 5th Congressional Seat, which covers Genesee, Tuscola and parts of Bay and Saginaw counties, will be open.

"I think it will be huge," said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics, of the 2012 race.

Two heavy-hitter area Democrats, Kildee’s nephew, Dan Kildee, and State Sen. John Gleason, said they are considering runs. Republican John Kupiec, Kildee’s opponent in the 2010 election, still hasn’t decided.

"Michigan conservatives and tea party activists were eager for another shot in 2012," said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak a news release. "Given that Democrats have to run on Obama's miserable record on jobs, national debt, and the economy, it's no wonder Kildee decided that a graceful exit was preferable to a certain defeat."

Flint Journal fileDan Kildee

But Democrats say they believe the seat will stay theirs. The state Democratic chairman, Mark Brewer, said the redistricting lines made the seat more Democratic.

"We're going to make sure (losing the seat to Republicans) doesn't happen," said Brewer. "We will not take this seat for granted."

Gleason, a Flushing Democrat said Friday that he would "take a very serious look at this," calling it a "viable opportunity." Dan Kildee, a former Genesee County treasurer and commissioner who now heads the city revitalization organization, Center for Community Progress, said he is considering his options.

"I've got a great job,” said Dan Kildee.” The question for me is what's the best thing for me to advance the things I believe in. Obviously, I would have to give that some thought."

Kupiec, who lost to Kildee in November 2010 by about 18,000 votes, said he didn’t feel Kildee was “a very effective Congressman for the citizens of the district.” But Kupiec said he is waiting on the redistricting results to decide whether the map looks favorable for election.

Kildee announced Friday he does not plan to seek re-election in 2012.

"We've kept our options open," Kupiec said. "At this point, we're evaluating where the final lines for the district will be drawn. What we've looked at this time is not very appealing for running again."

John Gleason

Dan Kildee was the first name that Brewer mentioned, although he stopped short of calling Kildee his personal choice.

"I fully expect that his nephew Dan will run based on previous conversations we've had,” said Brewer. ""He'll be a great a candidate and he’ll be a great congressman."

Some highlights of Dale Kildee's time in Congress, Ballenger said, included his ties to the environmental movement early on in his career and consecutive voting record.

Ballenger said Kildee was most recently recognized for his work on rewriting the No Child Left Behind policy while a member of the House subcommittee on early childhood, elementary and secondary education.

Although there’s been some challengers over the years, Kildee had a pretty firm foothold on the seat, said Ballenger.

The stiffest challenge Kildee has faced, Ballenger said, was in 2002, when redistricting moved former state representative, state Senator and Congressman Jim Barcia into the same district, covering all of Genesee and Tuscola counties and parts of Bay and Saginaw counties. But Barcia ran for state Senate instead.

John Kupiec

"Wow. I'm surprised, I'm very surprised," said Ballenger "I thought Dale Kildee would leave Congress feet first. I never thought he would quit voluntarily. I don't think he has anybody that can challenge him. That's why I'm so surprised by his decision."